29 November 2012: Peru has announced that a water balance study will be conducted for the Apurimac River’s upper basin with a view to identifying sustainable alternatives for improved water resource management to benefit the Cuzco and Arequipa regions. The 10-month study, prompted by an order from Peru’s Constitutional Court, will be managed by the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and technically supported by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

The announcement was made in Lima, Peru, on 27 November 2012, by Juan Jiménez Mayor, Prime Minister, Milton von Hesse, Agriculture Minister, Juan Manuel Guillén Benavides, President of the Arequipa Regional Government, and Jorge Acurio Tito, President of the Cuzco Regional Government.

The study will look at basin surface water supply resources, from Espinar Province in the Cisco Region to Caylloma Province in Arequipa Region. It also will assess water demand and project future demand in the area, taking into account the various uses, such as human consumption, sanitation, agriculture, industry, mining and energy.

The Apurimac River basin, critical to supplying water services to both the Cuzco and Arequipa Regions, is facing many challenges related to the lack of integrated watershed management, climate change and rising demand. Flow regulation and diversion projects have been proposed in the upstream portion of the basin, creating tensions between the two regions. [UNEP Press Release (in Spanish)]